Taiwanese authorities reacted positively to a landmark meeting between the island's former vice-president, Vincent Siew Wan-chang, and new top mainland leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan on Monday.

The low-key marriage of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou's eldest daughter has caused a big stir on the island and sparked a heated debate over whether the children and close relatives of public figures have the right to protect their privacy.

DPP chairman Su Tseng-chang wrapped up a controversial visit to Japan on Thursday that included meetings with several Japanese political heavyweights, including Nobuo Kishi, a member of the Japanese House of Councillors and brother of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Critics are already questioning whether Jiang, 53, will be able to hold on to the post longer than his predecessor, Sean Chen, who submitted his resignation to Ma late last month for "health reasons" after heading the cabinet for a year.

When Su Chi, then the head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council coined the term "1992 consensus" in 2000 few could have expected it to become the guiding principle for Beijing's own cross-strait policies.

The Communist Party's new leadership should ponder why more Taiwanese are unhappy despite the sweeteners Beijing has offered Taiwan under the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement, said the former head of a key Taipei-based cross-strait exchange body.

Taiwan named Lin Join-sane as its top negotiator with China, replacing Chiang Pin-kung, who oversaw the signing of 18 agreements as cross-strait relations reached their warmest in more than six decades.

With Taiwan's fiercely contested presidential election just days away and grabbing all the media attention, Taiwan's legislative elections - also being held on Saturday - have been largely ignored, despite candidates' efforts to increase their visibility.

The Taiwan Solidarity Union has decided to officially sever its link with the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party and take a more moderate stance in the hope of becoming a third force on the island.